Unconventional Supports & Those Who Could Fill Other Roles

The label "support" has been around since beta and ever since, support champions have been one of the least played as well as least desirable classes in all of League of Legends. But why is that?

Well to most players, support champions tend to be one of the least rewarding group of champions due to the lack of "carry potential". But champions labeled as support along with the support play style are rarely mutually exclusive. That is why this is one of my favorite aspects of League of Legends and one of the biggest reasons how the game play has been able to evolve throughout the years.

Being a League of Legends player since Pre-Season One, I have seen my fair share of people trying to break the boundaries of what a support champion can and can't do. I love to see champions such as Alistar and Soraka breaking through the support barrier and invading other roles on the team because it wasn't really all that long ago when a "mid-raka" or mid Zilean would have just been laughed at or simply rage inducing to some members of your team. Still, how can someone know that a specific support could fill another role on the team? Well, to be honest it's all about the build and the player becoming one with the champion, this is what causes this phenomenon of picks like top lane Lulu to occur and actually work. Yet without brave players willing to experiment, LoL would not be what it is today. So I applaud all the mid lane Tarics and AD Carry Sonas for paving the way for other such "support" champions in order to diversify what a champion labeled as support could do as well as who could be a support(in terms of play style).

One of the best things about the support play style is the diversification of which champions can be played as support. If you have ever played support at high ELO or at least have seen top tier support players in action, you should have heard about the three aspects that can make or break a support. The three are heals and shields, crowd control, and aggression; all top tier support tend to fall under two of these, if not all. However, you may have noticed many other champions, other than those categorized as support, could easily fit into at least two of these categories. This could cause teams to come up with an absurd amount of support/AD combinations, thus allowing the bottom lane experience to have a certain air of surprise and excitement when playing in blind mode or even in a draft style game. Never truly knowing beforehand if that Fiddlestick pick is going to be jungle, mid, or [yes] even support is what keeps me coming back to LoL.

So if you ask me why Riot rarely makes new support champions, I would respond by saying "What are you talking about they make a new support almost every two week" and soon after you might be able to catch me playing something like support Rengar while maniacally laughing as I lead my team to victory.

I really think that tanky supports are being used alot nowadays! And in its rightfull meaning! Leona, Alistar and Taric! <3 But supporting as a Rengar might be abit hard! :)

I really think that tanky supports are being used alot nowadays! And in its rightfull meaning! Leona, Alistar and Taric! <3 But supporting as a Rengar might be abit hard! :)

#2

m1st1k wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:17 CET:

I am impressed at the way you see the support role and i agree with you. I usually dont play support but you have inspired me to try something new.
PS. Methis if u see this that would be awesome ^^

I am impressed at the way you see the support role and i agree with you. I usually dont play support but you have inspired me to try something new.
PS. Methis if u see this that would be awesome ^^

#3

Colthy wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:20 CET:

Bringing unconventional supports to the scene is quite clever play. As Elementz clearly showed, Fiddlesticks is quite a viable support. Support Zyra was never confirmed as a viable pick before the koreans introduced it to the masses. The whole idea of playing something that is not expected is to surprise the opposition and bash their heads in with your surprisingly useful magic tricks! Back on track, i would like to see Shen support, Leona top, Sona mid and Lulu mid, played by pro players. That would be something worth watching!
P.S. BANANAS OP!

Bringing unconventional supports to the scene is quite clever play. As Elementz clearly showed, Fiddlesticks is quite a viable support. Support Zyra was never confirmed as a viable pick before the koreans introduced it to the masses. The whole idea of playing something that is not expected is to surprise the opposition and bash their heads in with your surprisingly useful magic tricks! Back on track, i would like to see Shen support, Leona top, Sona mid and Lulu mid, played by pro players. That would be something worth watching!
P.S. BANANAS OP!

#4

Kalah wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:20 CET:

Always when you say 'me support' in solo queue the rest of your team is like after 'SUPRISE MOTHERF*CKER'... But now everybody will say this :)

Always when you say 'me support' in solo queue the rest of your team is like after 'SUPRISE MOTHERF*CKER'... But now everybody will say this :)

#5

mortzman619 wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:22 CET:

i love this post the best idea since ammumu sunfire cape build the ideas like this are my favourite thing about the lol community

i love this post the best idea since ammumu sunfire cape build the ideas like this are my favourite thing about the lol community

#6

TheGuBBi wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:22 CET:

[quote=Colthy]P.S. BANANAS OP![/quote] I could not agree more.. BANANA is way to op! Anyways.. My favorite role is AD carry and i love to all these new supporters and new ways of supporting :) It makes playing AD carry alot more fun.

Colthy wrote:P.S. BANANAS OP!

I could not agree more.. BANANA is way to op! Anyways.. My favorite role is AD carry and i love to all these new supporters and new ways of supporting :) It makes playing AD carry alot more fun.

edited by TheGuBBi at 21.11.2012, 17:26 CET

#7

PowerPuffPilot wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:23 CET:

[quote=TheGuBBi][quote=Colthy]P.S. BANANAS OP![/quote] I could not agree more.. BANANA is way to op[/quote]
Even though bananas are OP, i still think that Soraka is a 'useless' support. No offence :)

TheGuBBi wrote:

Colthy wrote:P.S. BANANAS OP!

I could not agree more.. BANANA is way to op

Even though bananas are OP, i still think that Soraka is a 'useless' support. No offence :)

#8

ANGRY ASIAN INC wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:26 CET:

I think people underrate the role of a support. he is all in all the most important person in late, giving the vision on the map for an unknown gank or trap, no matter if his team does it or to dodge this traps. Also, a support does the calls, becvause he got trhe time to be able to analyze the enemies, while his carries farm or do another stuff.

I think people underrate the role of a support. he is all in all the most important person in late, giving the vision on the map for an unknown gank or trap, no matter if his team does it or to dodge this traps. Also, a support does the calls, becvause he got trhe time to be able to analyze the enemies, while his carries farm or do another stuff.

#9

ProcederPL wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:26 CET:

New season, times for changes. I really love the updates that actually will change the meta and make playstyle much different than in the other seasons. I am really happy supports will have now much more to say, and also the fact there will be a variety of builds instead of just the "meta items".
Can't wait! Love you Methis :3

New season, times for changes. I really love the updates that actually will change the meta and make playstyle much different than in the other seasons. I am really happy supports will have now much more to say, and also the fact there will be a variety of builds instead of just the "meta items".

Can't wait! Love you Methis :3

#10

telrad wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:27 CET:

I've to agree with NoMgc, League of Legends wouldn't be that game with something extra if champions stayed the same. Frankly I love having that guy that's ballsy enough going fiddlesticks support or mid, cause then I know that the player is really dedicated and risky enough to make some good plays. I am already playing leona jungle, which is awesome cause of the annoying cc she gives, and what can I say, i fucking love her (almost as much as I love Methis ). This thread was awesome to read and I look forward to the further making of them.

I've to agree with NoMgc, League of Legends wouldn't be that game with something extra if champions stayed the same. Frankly I love having that guy that's ballsy enough going fiddlesticks support or mid, cause then I know that the player is really dedicated and risky enough to make some good plays. I am already playing leona jungle, which is awesome cause of the annoying cc she gives, and what can I say, i fucking love her (almost as much as I love Methis ). This thread was awesome to read and I look forward to the further making of them.

#11

Chillisauce91 wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:27 CET:

you have to try a teemo/cassio botlane. The poisen dots from teemo stack with cassios twing fangs. once we had a ragequit enemy botlane after 3.20min =) overall it took us 14 min to win the game..
TEEMO <3 ftw!!

you have to try a teemo/cassio botlane. The poisen dots from teemo stack with cassios twing fangs. once we had a ragequit enemy botlane after 3.20min =) overall it took us 14 min to win the game..
TEEMO <3 ftw!!

#12

Rheider wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:27 CET:

I have to say, very interesting article. I believe that there is a lot of hidden power in playing unconventional supports. Being a jungler main, I have a lot of respect for support players (always being blamed for everything). There are some characters I am geniunly suprised that they are not played more often as support. Zilean for example. He has incredibly strong harass potential, a movement boost that synergieses extremly well with a ganking jungler/ a movement speed reliant ad carry. And at level 6 there is no way yoy should lose a fight.
To sum it up, /salute, for playing unorthodox supports!

I have to say, very interesting article. I believe that there is a lot of hidden power in playing unconventional supports. Being a jungler main, I have a lot of respect for support players (always being blamed for everything). There are some characters I am geniunly suprised that they are not played more often as support. Zilean for example. He has incredibly strong harass potential, a movement boost that synergieses extremly well with a ganking jungler/ a movement speed reliant ad carry. And at level 6 there is no way yoy should lose a fight.

To sum it up, /salute, for playing unorthodox supports!

#13

wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:27 CET:

Riot nerfing "standard" supports like Sona, Ali, Janna, Soraka is the reason why unconventional supports are often a better choice.

Riot nerfing "standard" supports like Sona, Ali, Janna, Soraka is the reason why unconventional supports are often a better choice.

#14

JamesRainey wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:27 CET:

I love playing support! I have only just got into playing it, and i find it helps win alot more matches. Since i started playing suppor, i have won so many more games! :) I think supports should have the role of just healing the team/ keeping them alive, rather than any kind of cc like alistar!

I love playing support! I have only just got into playing it, and i find it helps win alot more matches. Since i started playing suppor, i have won so many more games! :) I think supports should have the role of just healing the team/ keeping them alive, rather than any kind of cc like alistar!

#15

PowerPuffPilot wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:28 CET:

[quote=TheGuBBi][quote=Colthy]P.S. BANANAS OP![/quote] I could not agree more.. BANANA is way to op! Anyways.. My favorite role is AD carry and i love to all these new supporters and new ways of supporting :) It makes playing AD carry alot more fun.[/quote]
To be honest i have never been a great AD carry, nor a good support! But i still like AD carrying and supporting gets alot more fun when you use an Unconventional Support, such as Zyra or Fiddle :D

TheGuBBi wrote:

Colthy wrote:P.S. BANANAS OP!

I could not agree more.. BANANA is way to op! Anyways.. My favorite role is AD carry and i love to all these new supporters and new ways of supporting :) It makes playing AD carry alot more fun.

To be honest i have never been a great AD carry, nor a good support! But i still like AD carrying and supporting gets alot more fun when you use an Unconventional Support, such as Zyra or Fiddle :D

#16

BlueDemonLata wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:28 CET:

I totally agree with you, support champ can be pretty much anybody, just need to have guts to try something new, which is hard, since everyone then accuse you of trolling, but when they see the results it's different story. My main role is support since none of my friends like it, so I decided to try, and I liked it. Tried a lot of champs as support(Amumu is one of my favorite, 'cause of his double ''stun''. Ryze too with snare, Pantheon with jump/stun, Ashe too is good support with slow and ult, etc.). People just need to be more brave and open minded, and not to care too much about accusing of trolling, and try everything. :)

I totally agree with you, support champ can be pretty much anybody, just need to have guts to try something new, which is hard, since everyone then accuse you of trolling, but when they see the results it's different story. My main role is support since none of my friends like it, so I decided to try, and I liked it. Tried a lot of champs as support(Amumu is one of my favorite, 'cause of his double ''stun''. Ryze too with snare, Pantheon with jump/stun, Ashe too is good support with slow and ult, etc.). People just need to be more brave and open minded, and not to care too much about accusing of trolling, and try everything. :)

#17

yizuzcraist wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:30 CET:

Ahri is the best support right know, true story.

Ahri is the best support right know, true story.

#18

RaizeN1337 wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:31 CET:

I just played a bit of at S1 and my favourite support was Soraka. Even if i played support twice in week. Soraka was just good, but i am lazy to play her now, i mean, i just dont really want her to play .. It's in meta over new and better supports like Lulu,Sona and i like Nami too. Soraka is good against ezreal, or taric, or alsitar or just good with some AD carry which ar spamming spells. (ez,corki,varus..) I just didn't even tried to play Fiddlesticks, but i my comment is on him... That he is just good as support.. i dont know. I love when someone on stream just playing fiddlesticks, but i dont know how good is he! But i like that FEAR AND KILL "terror" ^^^
About article, this is a good information for some newbies, or just a people who don't know much about supporting. I just didnt even know much about fiddlesticks and it is soo good to know ;-)
I am really happy about this article. Thanks much for it! I really apperatice it!

I just played a bit of at S1 and my favourite support was Soraka. Even if i played support twice in week. Soraka was just good, but i am lazy to play her now, i mean, i just dont really want her to play .. It's in meta over new and better supports like Lulu,Sona and i like Nami too. Soraka is good against ezreal, or taric, or alsitar or just good with some AD carry which ar spamming spells. (ez,corki,varus..) I just didn't even tried to play Fiddlesticks, but i my comment is on him... That he is just good as support.. i dont know. I love when someone on stream just playing fiddlesticks, but i dont know how good is he! But i like that FEAR AND KILL "terror" ^^^

About article, this is a good information for some newbies, or just a people who don't know much about supporting. I just didnt even know much about fiddlesticks and it is soo good to know ;-)

I am really happy about this article. Thanks much for it! I really apperatice it!

#19

PowerPuffPilot wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:31 CET:

[quote=BlueDemonLata]I totally agree with you, support champ can be pretty much anybody, just need to guts to try something new, which is hard, since everyone then accuse you of trolling, but when they see the results it's different story. My main role is support since none of my friends like it, so I decided to try, and I liked it. Tried a lot of champs as support(Amumu is one of my favorite, 'cause of his double ''stun''. Ryze too with snare, Pantheon with jump/stun, etc.). People just need to be more brave and open minded, and not to care too much about accusing of trolling, and try everything. :)[/quote]
YES! You are RIGHT! I really like to use Pantheon support, but all my friends accuse me of trolling - even though the AD carry gets fed! :) I have never tried Amumu, but i will try it for sure!! :)

BlueDemonLata wrote:I totally agree with you, support champ can be pretty much anybody, just need to guts to try something new, which is hard, since everyone then accuse you of trolling, but when they see the results it's different story. My main role is support since none of my friends like it, so I decided to try, and I liked it. Tried a lot of champs as support(Amumu is one of my favorite, 'cause of his double ''stun''. Ryze too with snare, Pantheon with jump/stun, etc.). People just need to be more brave and open minded, and not to care too much about accusing of trolling, and try everything. :)

YES! You are RIGHT! I really like to use Pantheon support, but all my friends accuse me of trolling - even though the AD carry gets fed! :) I have never tried Amumu, but i will try it for sure!! :)

#20

Hekko wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:32 CET:

Methis is the only one real good support, she spam nice article on fb , and deliver skin :) Can i carry with you ? :)

Methis is the only one real good support, she spam nice article on fb , and deliver skin :) Can i carry with you ? :)

#21

robben991 wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:34 CET:

You're missing the point; because supports aren't on par with AP mids (and a lot of supports used to be able to mid before nerfs), AP mids have been replacing supports in bot lane as the 0 CS ward . It's been happening more and more since Luz, Zyra, etc. were being used in the World Championship for support. Expect to see more Morgana, Fiddlesticks, Orianna, Anivia, etc. while Janna and Soraka warm benches.

You're missing the point; because supports aren't on par with AP mids (and a lot of supports used to be able to mid before nerfs), AP mids have been replacing supports in bot lane as the 0 CS ward . It's been happening more and more since Luz, Zyra, etc. were being used in the World Championship for support. Expect to see more Morgana, Fiddlesticks, Orianna, Anivia, etc. while Janna and Soraka warm benches.

#22

Rintti wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:37 CET:

Id say supports are as hard to play as any role, why wouldent it be? At all elo levels you can help your team bigtime. You do have more time to be able to watch minimap, help your friends locate the jungler etc. Usually when i get my support role in around 1600 elo, i am potentially able to snowball at least botlane very hard but also as i said ping for jungler for other lanes. And i really hate those people who actually think support is the easiest role, cause i think that it can give most help to all the lanes (except for jungler obv).

Id say supports are as hard to play as any role, why wouldent it be? At all elo levels you can help your team bigtime. You do have more time to be able to watch minimap, help your friends locate the jungler etc. Usually when i get my support role in around 1600 elo, i am potentially able to snowball at least botlane very hard but also as i said ping for jungler for other lanes. And i really hate those people who actually think support is the easiest role, cause i think that it can give most help to all the lanes (except for jungler obv).

#23

Nejis wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:37 CET:

Almost every champ can support ,but is hard if u try to play them in normal/ranked games because people will say that u are trolling,because people only know 1 meta but u can always change that meta by improving new stuff and try champs in others roles , like froggen did with lee sin ,but support is a different role , because u really need to sinergy with your team and mainly with ur ad carry ,so the best unconventional supports are those u have some cc to help ur ad carry/team getting kills..like zyra,fiddle,zilean(dat ult save lifes), teemo is annoying too as support hehe ..
Nice article ,keep with the good news!

Almost every champ can support ,but is hard if u try to play them in normal/ranked games because people will say that u are trolling,because people only know 1 meta but u can always change that meta by improving new stuff and try champs in others roles , like froggen did with lee sin ,but support is a different role , because u really need to sinergy with your team and mainly with ur ad carry ,so the best unconventional supports are those u have some cc to help ur ad carry/team getting kills..like zyra,fiddle,zilean(dat ult save lifes), teemo is annoying too as support hehe ..

Nice article ,keep with the good news!

#24

fatal54 wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:38 CET:

Totally agred i that we cant say like '' oh soraka is a support champion'' cause there are no specific champs for supporting like you just said , all the champions can be playes at almost all roles just depends on player and his build .
I saw guys playing like pantheon support and they won just amazing i love that guys, open-minds thats how all the players should be because when your in a game in normal or low elo if you pick a strange support all flame you but i dont think they should.
Cheers

Totally agred i that we cant say like '' oh soraka is a support champion'' cause there are no specific champs for supporting like you just said , all the champions can be playes at almost all roles just depends on player and his build .
I saw guys playing like pantheon support and they won just amazing i love that guys, open-minds thats how all the players should be because when your in a game in normal or low elo if you pick a strange support all flame you but i dont think they should.
Cheers

#25

Abreva wrote at 21.11.2012, 17:42 CET:

Taken from reddit:
"The enemy support wards the lane brush and you and your AD Carry manage to destroy the ward right away
You meet the enemy support in the river, and he's trying to pink your pink. You manage to destroy his freshly placed pink faster and your own prevails
You get the whole wraith camp for yourself
You have 2 gp10s and boots at the 15 minute mark [sic]
You get focussed by the enemy bot lane (more of a masochist-like good feeling, but your AD will probably walk away with a double kill)
The AD Carry brings a ward to the lane as he sees that you can't afford any at the moment
Your AD carry survives with about 10 hp because of your clutch shield/heal/peel
THE BRUSH IS YOURS! The enemy support doesn't even dare stepping in there anymore. That's my territory now and I'm gonna do whatever the fuck I please in there (mostly walking back and forth and in and out)!
There are 2 enemy wards in the range of a single pink ward from you.
You somehow manage to get hold of a blue buff. Hands down, this is the greatest thing ever."
I know its long, but read it haha. I have to admit, support never been my thing. I do try every now and then but I just suck.

Taken from reddit:

"The enemy support wards the lane brush and you and your AD Carry manage to destroy the ward right away
You meet the enemy support in the river, and he's trying to pink your pink. You manage to destroy his freshly placed pink faster and your own prevails
You get the whole wraith camp for yourself
You have 2 gp10s and boots at the 15 minute mark [sic]
You get focussed by the enemy bot lane (more of a masochist-like good feeling, but your AD will probably walk away with a double kill)
The AD Carry brings a ward to the lane as he sees that you can't afford any at the moment
Your AD carry survives with about 10 hp because of your clutch shield/heal/peel
THE BRUSH IS YOURS! The enemy support doesn't even dare stepping in there anymore. That's my territory now and I'm gonna do whatever the fuck I please in there (mostly walking back and forth and in and out)!
There are 2 enemy wards in the range of a single pink ward from you.
You somehow manage to get hold of a blue buff. Hands down, this is the greatest thing ever."

I know its long, but read it haha. I have to admit, support never been my thing. I do try every now and then but I just suck.